Buckle



Sept. 21 1926. 1 ,soo;429

C. H. SAMPSON ET AL BUCKLE Filed March 15. 1924 Patented Sept. 21, 1926.

UNITED STATES- PATENTOFFICE- CHARLES H. SAMPSON AND JAMES WHITYLEY, ornocnns'rnmnnwvonx. I

i B C E. I l 1 Application filed March 15,1924. Serial No. 699,557. I

Our present invention relates to buckles and clasps and moreparticularly to belt buckles .of the kind used on personal apparel andit has for its object to provi de' a buck-1e having improved means forsecuring the belt at both ends without the necessity of perforating itwhich means are conveniently ope'rable and uniformly effective, Furtherimprovements are directed toward arrangements in this connectionwhereby. the free end of the belt can be inserted in the buckle with thegreatestfacility.- To t-hese "and other ends the invention resides incertain improvements and combinations of parts all as will behereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed outin the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a buckle and fragmentsof the end portion of a belt the same being constructed in accordancewith and illustrating one embodiment of our 7 spring bears against theaw plate 8 at 12 tion therethrough showing the free end of the belt inclamped position;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the free end of the beltreleased and showing the manner in which it is originally inserted andFigure 1 is an enlarged elevation of the inner side of the buckle alone.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate thesame parts.

In the present embodiment of the invention the buckle proper comprises acurved plate 1 having convexity in two directions. The permanentlyattached end of the belt is indicated at 2 and the free end at 3. On thetop and bottom edges of the buckle plate are flanges 4. At one end ofthese the buckle plate is spanned in spaced relationship to its innerside by a shaft 5 mounted in the flanges and having one end flattened asshown at 6 in Figure 1 to prevent it from it is so proportioned withreference to the distance of the shaft 5 from the buckle plate that asit rotates on the shaft its gripping surface very gradually; approachesthe surlfaceof the plate swinging in adirection towardthe body of thebelt, that is, to-ward the tip of the'buckle.

The beltis slipped into the buckle between the buckleplate and the'shaft5 and beneath the jaw plate 8. The latter is then pressed down againstit and due to the curvat'ure and "the swinging mount of the jaw plateitgrips the belt end and jams itiagainst the buckle plate. The. harderthebelt is pulled upon the stronger is this.' .ja'mming action.

In order to jawplate with the belt with sufficientfrictional contact tocause the belt to rotate the jaw plate into' jamming position, we pro-'vide spring means for actuating the jaw plate in such direction. In thepresent eni- ,bOCllllIGIlll an intermediate portion of the knuckle-7 iscut away at 10 and a spring 11 is coiled about the shaft 5. One end ofthe 8 can be turned back easily with the fingers.

In fact a groove 14: on the knuckle 7 roughens the latter sufficientlyto give a purchase for the fingers that will turn the jaw from theknuckle.

The other end 2 of the belt is held by a clamping member 15 havingtrunnions 16 turning in the flanges 4. Its edge is serrated at 17 and itis of such a length that when it is turned at right angles to the buckleplate 1 it bites into the material of the belt end 2 and clamps itfirmly against the plate. At this time, a lever portion 18 by means ofwhich it is manipulated is inclined toward the center of the plate inthe position shown. In order to insure the free passage of the end 3 ofthe belt beneath the jaw plate 8 and to the inner side of the clamp 15,we provide a thin curved guide plate 19 having an offset 20 at itsrearend in which the lever 18 may seat itself so that it insure'theengagement of the 7 forms substantially a continuation of the to a knifeedge at 21 where it contacts with the buckle plate and it is secured inplace to tightly hug the plate by perforated ears 22 that lie againstthe flanges l and are secured'by the shaft 5.

lVe claim'as our invention:

1. In a buckle, the combination with, a buckle plate, of a shaftspanning the same,

a a curved, swinging jaw plate having a knuckle portion on the shaft andadapted to jam a belt against the buckle plate, said,

knuckle portion being cut away to expose a, portion of the. shaft, and.a spring surrounding the shaft within the cutaway portion of the knuckleand acting to move the jaw plate to operative position.

a 2. In a buckle, the combination with a buckle plate, of a shaftspanning the same,

a curved, swinging jaw platehaving a knuckle portion on the shaft andadapted to jam abelt against the buckle plate, a spring on the'shaftacting to, move the aw plate to operative position, and a finger gripjonthe knuckle" portion wherebyeit may be actuated- ."against its spring.

3. In a buckle, the combination with a buckle plate and a swinging beltgripping member adapted to pinch one end of a belt against the plate,said member guide plate being having a relatively angularly disposedoperating portion, of a curved swinging jaw plate adapted to jam theother endcof the belt against the buckle plate, and a guide plateextending from the surface of the buckle plate in the region of the jawplate tion, of acurved swinging jaw plate adapted to jam the other endofthe belt against the buckle plate, a shaft therefor spanning thebuckleplate, and a guideplate extending from the surface of the buckle platein with the gripping member' to guide said last mentioned belt end pastthe latter, said provided with ears by which it is mounted on the shaft.

the region of the jaw plate into cooperation CHARLES H. sAMPsoNg I IJAME S'Ll WHITLEY.

